Valverde wins Ruta del Sol prologue

Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) scorched to victory in the prologue of the Ruta del Sol, beating Simon Spilak (Katusha) into second place on the 6km course in San Fernando, while Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Sharp) came home in third.

Valverde won the race overall last year shortly after returning from suspension for his links to blood doping doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, and he got his defence off to the perfect start on the straightforward, out-and-back course, finishing two seconds ahead of Spilak and four ahead of Farrar.

"To be honest, I'm the first one who is surprised about this result," said Valverde. "My condition was good, but I made the course 20 seconds faster than last year, and that's a huge improvement. I knew the course and only watched it by car today; I didn't do a bike recce, but I found good legs right from the start.

"This victory is important for my confidence, especially because it's a time trial. That means the work we're doing on the TT bike is paying off already. There's still huge room to improve, but we're on the right track."

The early pace-setter was Maxim Belkov (Katusha) and Jack Bobridge (Blanco) was among the riders unable to better his time of 6:56. Bobridge’s Blanco teammate Robert Gesink also failed to make an impact (he lost 43 seconds), and Belkov’s time stood unchallenged until first Farrar and then Spilak took the start and passed him on the leaderboard.

Of the later starters, Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Lotto Belisol) was a notable performer, clocking a fine time of 6:50, which would be enough for 4th place come the end of the stage.

Ultimately, however, it was Valverde, the last man off, who had the final say. The Spaniard gauged his effort well and stopped the clock in 6:46, enough to put him two seconds clear of Spilak and take the first red jersey of the race.

The Ruta del Sol continues on Monday with a 164km stage from San Fernando to Ubrique.

Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team0:06:46
2Simon Spilak (Slo) Katusha0:00:02
3Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Sharp0:00:04
4Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 3 - Cell 2
5Patrick Gretsch (Ger) Argos - Shimano0:00:06
6Stef Clement (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling0:00:09
7Bart De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Belisol0:00:10
8Maxim Belkov (Rus) KatushaRow 7 - Cell 2
9Martijn Keizer (Ned) Vacansoleil - DCMRow 8 - Cell 2
10Bauke Mollema (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling0:00:11
11Jan Barta (Cze) Team NetApp - EnduraRow 10 - Cell 2
12Jerome Coppel (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 11 - Cell 2
13Jon Izagirre (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:00:12
14Jakob Fuglsang (Den) AstanaRow 13 - Cell 2
15Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) AstanaRow 14 - Cell 2
16Daniel Moreno (Spa) Katusha0:00:13
17José Iván Gutiérrez (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 16 - Cell 2
18Vladimir Gusev (Rus) KatushaRow 17 - Cell 2
19Anthony Delaplace (Fra) SojasunRow 18 - Cell 2
20Jack Bobridge (Aus) Blanco Pro Cycling0:00:14
21Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar TeamRow 20 - Cell 2
22Robert Hunter (RSA) Garmin - Sharp0:00:15
23Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Argos - Shimano0:00:16
24Simon Geschke (Ger) Argos - Shimano0:00:17
25Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Garmin - SharpRow 24 - Cell 2
26José Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Movistar Team0:00:18
27Javier Moreno (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 26 - Cell 2
28Pim Ligthart (Ned) Vacansoleil - DCMRow 27 - Cell 2
29Janez Brajkovic (Slo) AstanaRow 28 - Cell 2
30Grega Bole (Slo) Vacansoleil - DCM0:00:19
31Nick Nuyens (Bel) Garmin - SharpRow 30 - Cell 2
32Yves Lampaert (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 31 - Cell 2
33Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Argos - ShimanoRow 32 - Cell 2
34Francis De Greef (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 33 - Cell 2
35Luis Angel Mate (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 34 - Cell 2
36Gorka Verdugo (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 35 - Cell 2
37Luca Paolini (Ita) Katusha0:00:20
38Jacek Morajko (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice0:00:21
39Iker Camaño (Spa) Team NetApp - EnduraRow 38 - Cell 2
40Maurits Lammereink (Ned) Vacansoleil - DCM0:00:22
41Luis Mas (Spa) Burgos BH-Castilla y LeonRow 40 - Cell 2
42Adrian Kurek (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 41 - Cell 2
43Joost Van Leijen (Ned) Lotto BelisolRow 42 - Cell 2
44Jaroslaw Marycz (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice0:00:23
45Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Blanco Pro CyclingRow 44 - Cell 2
46Antonio Piedra (Spa) Caja RuralRow 45 - Cell 2
47Clement Lhotellerie (Fra) Colba Superano HamRow 46 - Cell 2
48Cyril Bessy (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:00:24
49Karol Domagalski (Pol) Caja RuralRow 48 - Cell 2
50Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Sojasun0:00:25
51Xavier Florencio (Spa) KatushaRow 50 - Cell 2
52Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Vacansoleil - DCMRow 51 - Cell 2
53Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Garmin - SharpRow 52 - Cell 2
54Rafael Valls (Spa) Vacansoleil - DCM0:00:26
55Yelko Gomez (Pan) Caja RuralRow 54 - Cell 2
56Enzo Moyano (Arg) Caja RuralRow 55 - Cell 2
57Jarl Salomein (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 56 - Cell 2
58Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 57 - Cell 2
59Ioannis Tamouridis (Gre) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:00:27
60Yannick Talabardon (Fra) SojasunRow 59 - Cell 2
61Sander Armee (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 60 - Cell 2
62Andreas Klier (Ger) Garmin - SharpRow 61 - Cell 2
63Davide Rebellin (Ita) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 62 - Cell 2
64Cesare Benedetti (Ita) Team NetApp - EnduraRow 63 - Cell 2
65Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise0:00:28
66Imanol Erviti (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 65 - Cell 2
67Daniel Schorn (Aut) Team NetApp - EnduraRow 66 - Cell 2
68David De La Cruz (Spa) Team NetApp - EnduraRow 67 - Cell 2
69Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Lotto Belisol0:00:29
70Marek Rutkiewicz (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 69 - Cell 2
71Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) AstanaRow 70 - Cell 2
72Juan J Lobato (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 71 - Cell 2
73Michael Van Staeyen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise0:00:30
74Sander Helven (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 73 - Cell 2
75Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) SojasunRow 74 - Cell 2
76Daniel Navarro (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:00:31
77Thomas Degand (Bel) Accent Jobs-WantyRow 76 - Cell 2
78Jonas Ahlstrand (Swe) Argos - ShimanoRow 77 - Cell 2
79Romain Feillu (Fra) Vacansoleil - DCMRow 78 - Cell 2
80Rubén Plaza (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 79 - Cell 2
81Jean-Lou Paiani (Fra) Sojasun0:00:32
82Leopold Konig (Cze) Team NetApp - EnduraRow 81 - Cell 2
83David Tanner (Aus) Blanco Pro CyclingRow 82 - Cell 2
84Bartlomiej Matysiak (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 83 - Cell 2
85Mark Renshaw (Aus) Blanco Pro Cycling0:00:33
86Mikel Landa (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:00:34
87Will Routley (Can) Accent Jobs-WantyRow 86 - Cell 2
88Cyril Lemoine (Fra) SojasunRow 87 - Cell 2
89Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Garmin - Sharp0:00:35
90Mikel Nieve (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:00:36
91Moisés Dueñas (Spa) Burgos BH-Castilla y LeonRow 90 - Cell 2
92Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:00:37
93Tristan Valentin (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 92 - Cell 2
94Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Argos - ShimanoRow 93 - Cell 2
95Marcos García (Spa) Caja Rural0:00:38
96Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) AstanaRow 95 - Cell 2
97Yury Trofimov (Rus) Katusha0:00:39
98Bartosz Huzarski (Pol) Team NetApp - EnduraRow 97 - Cell 2
99Eliot Lietaer (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 98 - Cell 2
100Maxime Mederel (Fra) Sojasun0:00:41
101Jurgen Francois (Bel) Colba Superano HamRow 100 - Cell 2
102Francesco Lasca (Ita) Caja RuralRow 101 - Cell 2
103Pablo Torres (Spa) Burgos BH-Castilla y LeonRow 102 - Cell 2
104Andy Cappelle (Bel) Accent Jobs-Wanty0:00:42
105Cheng Ji (Chn) Argos - ShimanoRow 104 - Cell 2
106Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Accent Jobs-WantyRow 105 - Cell 2
107Niels Van Dorsselaer (Bel) Colba Superano Ham0:00:43
108Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 107 - Cell 2
109Victor Fobert (Fra) Colba Superano HamRow 108 - Cell 2
110Robert Gesink (Ned) Blanco Pro CyclingRow 109 - Cell 2
111Guillaume Levarlet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:00:45
112Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana0:00:46
113Aron Kremer (Ned) Colba Superano Ham0:00:50
114David Arroyo (Spa) Caja Rural0:00:51
115Dario Hernandez (Spa) Burgos BH-Castilla y LeonRow 114 - Cell 2
116David Belda (Spa) Burgos BH-Castilla y Leon0:00:55
117Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Accent Jobs-WantyRow 116 - Cell 2
118Jesus Del Pino (Spa) Burgos BH-Castilla y Leon0:01:01
119Stefan Van Dijk (Ned) Accent Jobs-Wanty0:01:03
120Steven Caethoven (Bel) Accent Jobs-Wanty0:01:04
121James Mowatt (Aus) Colba Superano Ham0:01:05
122Simone Ponzi (Ita) Astana0:01:08
123Steve Bekaert (Bel) Burgos BH-Castilla y Leon0:01:09
124Sven Jodts (Bel) Colba Superano Ham0:01:13
125Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 124 - Cell 2
126Grzegorz Stepniak (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice0:01:49
Swipe to scroll horizontally
General classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team0:06:46
2Simon Spilak (Slo) Katusha0:00:02
3Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Sharp0:00:04
4Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 3 - Cell 2
5Patrick Gretsch (Ger) Argos - Shimano0:00:06
6Stef Clement (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling0:00:09
7Bart De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Belisol0:00:10
8Maxim Belkov (Rus) KatushaRow 7 - Cell 2
9Martijn Keizer (Ned) Vacansoleil - DCMRow 8 - Cell 2
10Bauke Mollema (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling0:00:11
11Jan Barta (Cze) Team NetApp - EnduraRow 10 - Cell 2
12Jerome Coppel (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 11 - Cell 2
13Jon Izagirre (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:00:12
14Jakob Fuglsang (Den) AstanaRow 13 - Cell 2
15Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) AstanaRow 14 - Cell 2
16Daniel Moreno (Spa) Katusha0:00:13
17José Iván Gutiérrez (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 16 - Cell 2
18Vladimir Gusev (Rus) KatushaRow 17 - Cell 2
19Anthony Delaplace (Fra) SojasunRow 18 - Cell 2
20Jack Bobridge (Aus) Blanco Pro Cycling0:00:14
21Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar TeamRow 20 - Cell 2
22Robert Hunter (RSA) Garmin - Sharp0:00:15
23Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Argos - Shimano0:00:16
24Simon Geschke (Ger) Argos - Shimano0:00:17
25Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Garmin - SharpRow 24 - Cell 2
26José Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Movistar Team0:00:18
27Javier Moreno (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 26 - Cell 2
28Pim Ligthart (Ned) Vacansoleil - DCMRow 27 - Cell 2
29Janez Brajkovic (Slo) AstanaRow 28 - Cell 2
30Grega Bole (Slo) Vacansoleil - DCM0:00:19
31Nick Nuyens (Bel) Garmin - SharpRow 30 - Cell 2
32Yves Lampaert (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 31 - Cell 2
33Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Argos - ShimanoRow 32 - Cell 2
34Francis De Greef (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 33 - Cell 2
35Luis Angel Mate (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 34 - Cell 2
36Gorka Verdugo (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 35 - Cell 2
37Luca Paolini (Ita) Katusha0:00:20
38Jacek Morajko (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice0:00:21
39Iker Camaño (Spa) Team NetApp - EnduraRow 38 - Cell 2
40Maurits Lammereink (Ned) Vacansoleil - DCM0:00:22
41Luis Mas (Spa) Burgos BH-Castilla y LeonRow 40 - Cell 2
42Adrian Kurek (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 41 - Cell 2
43Joost Van Leijen (Ned) Lotto BelisolRow 42 - Cell 2
44Jaroslaw Marycz (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice0:00:23
45Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Blanco Pro CyclingRow 44 - Cell 2
46Antonio Piedra (Spa) Caja RuralRow 45 - Cell 2
47Clement Lhotellerie (Fra) Colba Superano HamRow 46 - Cell 2
48Cyril Bessy (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:00:24
49Karol Domagalski (Pol) Caja RuralRow 48 - Cell 2
50Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Sojasun0:00:25
51Xavier Florencio (Spa) KatushaRow 50 - Cell 2
52Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Vacansoleil - DCMRow 51 - Cell 2
53Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Garmin - SharpRow 52 - Cell 2
54Rafael Valls (Spa) Vacansoleil - DCM0:00:26
55Yelko Gomez (Pan) Caja RuralRow 54 - Cell 2
56Enzo Moyano (Arg) Caja RuralRow 55 - Cell 2
57Jarl Salomein (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 56 - Cell 2
58Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 57 - Cell 2
59Ioannis Tamouridis (Gre) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:00:27
60Yannick Talabardon (Fra) SojasunRow 59 - Cell 2
61Sander Armee (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 60 - Cell 2
62Andreas Klier (Ger) Garmin - SharpRow 61 - Cell 2
63Davide Rebellin (Ita) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 62 - Cell 2
64Cesare Benedetti (Ita) Team NetApp - EnduraRow 63 - Cell 2
65Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise0:00:28
66Imanol Erviti (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 65 - Cell 2
67Daniel Schorn (Aut) Team NetApp - EnduraRow 66 - Cell 2
68David De La Cruz (Spa) Team NetApp - EnduraRow 67 - Cell 2
69Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Lotto Belisol0:00:29
70Marek Rutkiewicz (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 69 - Cell 2
71Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) AstanaRow 70 - Cell 2
72Juan J Lobato (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 71 - Cell 2
73Michael Van Staeyen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise0:00:30
74Sander Helven (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 73 - Cell 2
75Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) SojasunRow 74 - Cell 2
76Daniel Navarro (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:00:31
77Thomas Degand (Bel) Accent Jobs-WantyRow 76 - Cell 2
78Jonas Ahlstrand (Swe) Argos - ShimanoRow 77 - Cell 2
79Romain Feillu (Fra) Vacansoleil - DCMRow 78 - Cell 2
80Rubén Plaza (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 79 - Cell 2
81Jean-Lou Paiani (Fra) Sojasun0:00:32
82Leopold Konig (Cze) Team NetApp - EnduraRow 81 - Cell 2
83David Tanner (Aus) Blanco Pro CyclingRow 82 - Cell 2
84Bartlomiej Matysiak (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 83 - Cell 2
85Mark Renshaw (Aus) Blanco Pro Cycling0:00:33
86Mikel Landa (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:00:34
87Will Routley (Can) Accent Jobs-WantyRow 86 - Cell 2
88Cyril Lemoine (Fra) SojasunRow 87 - Cell 2
89Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Garmin - Sharp0:00:35
90Mikel Nieve (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:00:36
91Moisés Dueñas (Spa) Burgos BH-Castilla y LeonRow 90 - Cell 2
92Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:00:37
93Tristan Valentin (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 92 - Cell 2
94Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Argos - ShimanoRow 93 - Cell 2
95Marcos García (Spa) Caja Rural0:00:38
96Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) AstanaRow 95 - Cell 2
97Yury Trofimov (Rus) Katusha0:00:39
98Bartosz Huzarski (Pol) Team NetApp - EnduraRow 97 - Cell 2
99Eliot Lietaer (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 98 - Cell 2
100Maxime Mederel (Fra) Sojasun0:00:41
101Jurgen Francois (Bel) Colba Superano HamRow 100 - Cell 2
102Francesco Lasca (Ita) Caja RuralRow 101 - Cell 2
103Pablo Torres (Spa) Burgos BH-Castilla y LeonRow 102 - Cell 2
104Andy Cappelle (Bel) Accent Jobs-Wanty0:00:42
105Cheng Ji (Chn) Argos - ShimanoRow 104 - Cell 2
106Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Accent Jobs-WantyRow 105 - Cell 2
107Niels Van Dorsselaer (Bel) Colba Superano Ham0:00:43
108Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 107 - Cell 2
109Victor Fobert (Fra) Colba Superano HamRow 108 - Cell 2
110Robert Gesink (Ned) Blanco Pro CyclingRow 109 - Cell 2
111Guillaume Levarlet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:00:45
112Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana0:00:46
113Aron Kremer (Ned) Colba Superano Ham0:00:50
114David Arroyo (Spa) Caja Rural0:00:51
115Dario Hernandez (Spa) Burgos BH-Castilla y LeonRow 114 - Cell 2
116David Belda (Spa) Burgos BH-Castilla y Leon0:00:55
117Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Accent Jobs-WantyRow 116 - Cell 2
118Jesus Del Pino (Spa) Burgos BH-Castilla y Leon0:01:01
119Stefan Van Dijk (Ned) Accent Jobs-Wanty0:01:03
120Steven Caethoven (Bel) Accent Jobs-Wanty0:01:04
121James Mowatt (Aus) Colba Superano Ham0:01:05
122Simone Ponzi (Ita) Astana0:01:08
123Steve Bekaert (Bel) Burgos BH-Castilla y Leon0:01:09
124Sven Jodts (Bel) Colba Superano Ham0:01:13
125Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 124 - Cell 2
126Grzegorz Stepniak (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice0:01:49

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